Gender Pay Gap

Across
the European Union, women’s salary is 18 percent lower that men’s.
In Germany, this gap is even wider. The BPW (Business and
Professional Women) Germany has started a petition for more equality
at work called "Equal Pay Day".

01.

Slovenia2.3 %

10.

Bulgaria13.0 %

19.

Switzerland17.9 %

02.

Poland4.5 %

11.

Letvia13.6 %

20.

Hungary18.0 %

03.

Italy5.8 %

12.

France14.7 %

21.

Finland18.2 %

04.

Luxemburg8.7 %

13.

Sweden15.8 %

22.

UK20.1 %

05.

Belgium10.2 %

14.

Norway15.9 %

23.

Slovakia20.5 %

06.

Lithuania11.9 %

15.

Spain16.2 %

24.

Czech Republic21.0 %

07.

Romania12.1 %

16.

Cyprus16.4 %

25.

Germany22.2 %

08.

Portugal12.5 %

17.

Denmark16.4 %

26.

Austria23.7 %

09.

Malta12.9 %

18.

Netherlands17.9 %

27.

Estonia27.3 %

table: gender pay gap in 2011 (from eurostat, European Comission)

The
reasons for this unequal pay are manifold. Besides a handed-down
distribution of roles which influences the choice of job (e.g. nurse
vs. auto mechanic) and employment behaviour (e.g. family-related
part-time work and maternity leave), a lack of infrastructure, such
as childcare centres, and the current tax and social security laws -
which favour marriages with a sole wage earner – have played a
major part in this development.

On
Equal Pay Day on 21 March 2013, BWP initiated Germany-wide numerous
events which pointed out the existing pay gap and demanded action
from politician and society. This year’s motto addressed the images
of men and women in society, the campaign was entitled “Mannsbilder?
– Weibsbilder? – Neue Bilder!” . Demands included a general
availability of childcare facilities, a more equal distribution of
parental leave and improvements om tax and insurance law.